Originally Posted by SteveZ

The biggest problem with Special Operations is that nobody leaves it alone. By that I mean that rarely are missions left to the devices of the Special OPS professionals. Take, for example, the hijacking attempt of the American vessel off Somalia. Special OPs trains for those kinds of mssions, but the White House had to get in the middle of it all, with the on-again, off-again, don't-do-this-do-that interference. That's the stuff that gets folk killed. And this President isn't being singled out, as they all have done the same. Being commander-in-chief doesn't give a person knowledge, experience and ability to tactically run a military mission, especially Special OPS.

Diplomacy is and always has been the preferred approach by military professionals who realize exactly what the effect is going to be - on friendly and foe - once the decision is made for a military solution to any problem. So, the hope is that diplomacy will work, but the reality of being prepared to go into harm's way to solve a problem is mandatory. But once, the decision is to "go military," then the amateurs need to get out of the military's way when it "goes to work."